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OVERVIEW

Keira Cameron is a police officer. It’s a pretty advanced time, the year is 2077. While she is overseeing the execution of 8 domestic terrorists, they activate a time travel device and send them all back to the year 2013. She arrives with a bunch of her high-tech police tools — special suit with lots of functions built into it, weapons keyed only to her DNA, and comms equipment to allow her to connect directly to her HQ. Except her HQ doesn’t exist in 2013. Nevertheless, she is a police officer and sworn to apprehend the 8 suspects aka Liber8, so she infiltrates the local police to work with them in combating whatever mayhem Liber8 is going to start as they try to change time and prevent a future ruled by corporations…which would also inconveniently wipe out all of their timelines, including Keira’s son and husband.

EPISODES THAT I LIKED

The first episode, A Stitch in Time, sets the show up almost perfectly. It shows Keira in her element in the future, struggling with some of the ways in which the world works but generally moving from a view that everything is black and white and she’s one of the white hats towards something a bit more complex or nuanced. When she arrives in 2013, someone contacts her over her headset — a kid named Alex Sadler (hey, just because he shares my last name isn’t the reason I love the show, but it was a perk) who goes on to become the Steve Jobs of the future, well beyond phones and music players. He has a prototype for a different kind of comms network, i.e. the one that eventually becomes the basis for the suit she’s wearing, and so they accidentally “meet” over the comms line. She eventually has to explain to him the situation — stuck out of time — and they start working together. Through subsequent flashbacks, you see how certain elements tie together through time. The show is basically TimeCop but with no redos, and no way to return home. I was in like Flynn.

The fifth episode, A Test of Time, is time travel at its most nerdiness. They want to test their paradox vulnerability — if someone kills their parents before they’re even conceived, will they disappear? There are multiple twists and turns to test the theory, with threats to multiple time travelers and even those who aren’t skipping through time. The dialogue has some uber time travel theories built into it, and the twists and turns establish the basic rules for the show. One of the best time travel episodes of any show anywhere.

The season finale, episode ten, Endtimes, blew up the premise of the show big time. Some of the elements introduced kind of confused things later, but at first, it’s amazing…up until this point, the assumption is that the Liber8 crew plus Keira are the only time travelers. But what if there are more? Including a crazy homeless guy who recognizes Keira as a futuristic cop. Mind blown, I couldn’t wait for the second season to come.

Episodes 2 (Fast Times), 3 (Wasting Time), 6 (Time’s Up), 8 (Playtime), and 9 (Family Time) were all episodes that I rated four stars as they dealt with an attempt to go back home, one of Liber8 wanting to play profiteer in the past, early signs of Liber8 taking on big companies who are doing bad things, the dangers of VR technology, and the origins of Alex Sadler, tech mogul.

EPISODES THAT WERE WATCHABLE

There were only two episodes of the season that I rated at three stars, and it was more because they were setups for other episodes rather than full episodes on their own. Episode 4, A Matter of Time, has one of Liber8 arrive “late” to the party (time travel didn’t work as expected for him) and episode 7, Politics of Time, bogged itself down in union politics issues.

EPISODES THAT I DIDN’T LIKE

None, it was a great first season.

EPISODE-BY-EPISODE REVIEW

S01E01

#Continuum – S01E01 A Stitch In Time – Keira has backup against Liber8 😃😃😃😃😃 #TVReviews #BingeWatch

It’s the start of the new TV season, and time to predict the survival outcome for all the new shows. Last year I made it to almost 80%, which I was particularly happy with…I do two predictions — one based on just the description, and an updated one after I have watched the premieres. Most of the time, there’s no change between the two. 🙂 Let’s see how I do this year…

Way back at the start of the television season, I tried to predict the success factor for all the new shows as to whether or not they were likely to get renewal for a second season. Let’s see how I did…

The first group were the ones I predicted renewal for, and there were 12.

ABC: The Good Doctor – Predicted RENEWED and outcome is RENEWED

ABC: The Mayor – Predicted RENEWED and outcome is CANCELLED — after watching one EP, it was pretty clear it would be cancelled though

So I got 8/12 right. Much better than I did last year (where it was more 50/50). If I had waited to watch the first few EPs before I predicted, I would have at least went to 10/12 right…I never watched Champions or Rise.

The second group of shows were ones where I was predicting cancellation, with 16 predicted to circle the drain. Again, let’s see how I did:

ABC: Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (formerly The Gospel of Kevin) – Predicted CANCELLED and outcome is CANCELLED

ABC: Ten Days in the Valley – Predicted CANCELLED and outcome is CANCELLED

CBS: 9JKL – Predicted CANCELLED and outcome is CANCELLED

BS: Me, Myself and I – Predicted CANCELLED and outcome is CANCELLED

BS: Seal Team – Predicted CANCELLED and outcome is RENEWED

CBS: Wisdom of the Crowd – Predicted CANCELLED and outcome is CANCELLED

Of the 15 where the outcome is mostly known, I only got 10 right (2/3). However, for at least two more of the “wrong ones” i.e. ones that were renewed, others were surprised by those renewal notes since the ratings kind of sucked. Which means I was right about the ratings, but they got renewed anyway. Weird. That would have taken me to 12/15 or 80%.

Overall I have 8+10 = 18 out of 27, or 2/3. If I adjusted for the actual shows and ignoring surprises, I would have had closer to 22/27 or 80%.

OVERVIEW

There is an episode near the end (E19) that is one of the best of the series…it is funny, it is interesting, it is vintage Season 1 and 4 all together in a big bowl of mystery with comedy sprinkled on top. A complete palate cleanser from all the Eps filled with Angst. Yet by the time I got there, the first half of the season was almost making me wonder if I would continue watching. Definitely near the bottom of the seasons.

EPISODES THAT I LIKED

There are some pretty good Eps in the second half of the season, with diplomats and spies (E11); an escape room (E12); ESL (E13); the Great Detective Society (E14); Esposito’s ex-girlfriend (E16); a lamp and a genie (E17); and Hayley’s past in Britain (E18). However, there are two Eps that are vintage Castle at its best — the return of Slaughter (E06) is funny throughout, but then E19 brings out the best lines of the series with a victim who won’t stay dead.

EPISODES THAT WERE WATCHABLE

At the start of the season, it really looked like the renewal from Season 7 to Season 8 was a “gift”. The vast majority of the first half of the season are watchable, but not memorable, with Beckett disappearing (sound familiar? E01, E02); prison and guards experiment (E03); pathological liars and hermit authors (E04); art theft and murder (E05); an a capella group (E09); Castle as witness in a case, with new information coming forward (E10); murder at the police academy (E15); murder while doing Shakespeare (E20); and avenging angels and murderous demons (E21).

However, the two most disappointing are a Sting-style episode (E07), and the series finale (E22), both with promising plots that go nowhere.

EPISODES THAT I DIDN’T LIKE

Episode 8 is entitled Mr. and Mrs. Castle and the whole episode is about the two of them deciding if they want to be together or not. Lies, half-truths, omissions, angst, it was just torturous to watch. I *DON’T* care, just decide something. Anything. And go with it. It felt like a complete repeat of the previous year when Castle had amnesia and was running around not telling Beckett what was going on, except the shoe is on the other foot, and did I mention, I DON’T CARE. Arghhh. Not to mention, it doesn’t GO anywhere. No resolution, no big emotional movement, NOTHING leading to MORE NOTHING.

OVERVIEW

As I watched the episodes, I frequently felt, “Okay, last season”. Quite a few Eps seem like repeats of story ideas they’ve used before or promising ones that go nowhere. I was initially skeptical of the “Castle as P.I.” plot device, but it isn’t completely batty in its execution, and it does work for the most part. Washington? Not so much.

EPISODES THAT I LIKED

The best episode of the season is near the end, with Alexis and Castle on a plane to London (E21) and trying to solve an Air Marshal’s murder. And there are some other good ones — Castle becomes a private investigator to let him keep working on cases (E11); an astronaut gets killed in a habitat simulator (E16); and some movement on 3XK (E14, E15). Ryan and Esposito get to lead on an episode each, with Ryan working as a night security guard leading to work with the Secret Service (E18) and Esposito dealing with a bomb on a subway car (E08).

But the other three are about Castle’s disappearance — his return with no answers (E01), the reason for his loss is revealed (E20), and the pseudo-series finale where we find out why Castle is into mysteries and thrillers with his origin story (E23).

EPISODES THAT WERE WATCHABLE

There are eight more EPs that are blah again, and it drags the series down. Hence, why I think it runs out of gas. E02 sends him on a bread-crumb to Montreal while the team looks at a dead toy CEO; someone killing internet celebrities (E05); a visit to a Western town (E07); another Romeo and Juliet episode, again with the mob (E10); murder of a telenovela star (E12) with a weak plot; Rear Window, again (E13); a Chinese super cop (E17); and a personal injury lawyer with a conscience (E19). Several of those are just retreads of earlier episodes, and the originals were better.

EPISODES THAT I DIDN’T LIKE

It is rare that I give an Ep of a series I watch anything less than three stars. It’s an inherent bias to my reviews — if I like the show well enough to keep watching it every week, chances are that Eps are going to at least be watchable, right? But this season I went so far as to give E03 a zero — dealing with a supposed invisible man. Um, okay. Heck even E06 dealing with an alternate universe was more believable. And those two are really in a class of crap all by themselves.

But even beyond those two REALLY bad ones, there are still three others that just aren’t worth watching — E04 which is kind of like Kindergarten Cop; E09 which rips off the Expendables movie series; and E22 looks at a SNL-like show, with skits and scenes that need a rewrite, apparently.

OVERVIEW

The season starts off with Beckett working in Washington, and the whole dynamic just doesn’t work. I like the 3XK stuff, and a Carrie-like prank. I’ll even accept the wedding episode. But not a great season overall, one of the lower average scores so far.

EPISODES THAT I LIKED

They have some good plots for single episodes — Castle might be dying (E01), dead hackers and Daddy (E012), brawling models and wedding planning (E14), and skateboarders (E21). Beckett going undercover as a Russian is better, but not quite there overall (E17). 3XK comes back around with some clones (E09) and the truth is out there on Beckett’s mom’s murder (E22). But there are three EPs that shine…time travel (E05), a Carrie-like prank (E15), and wedding bells (E23).

EPISODES THAT WERE WATCHABLE

Despite the ten episodes I like, there are nine that are merely okay…a repeat of D.O.A. (E02, second part of E01 that was better), monks and treasure hunters (E06), diamonds and gorillas (E08), baby whisperers (E10), and teen divas with decoys (E13). Esposito and Ryan get trapped in a burning building for a very special episode (E11), and it should be awesome, but instead is just okay. The boys also take on ninjas (E18) and the 70s (E20), and again, the premises are awesome, but the mysteries are pretty blah. More kitsch than story. And like most seasons, we need an episode for Alexis so we throw her an innocence project (E07). Yawn.

EPISODES THAT I DIDN’T LIKE

But the bigger issue is that there are four episodes that are just uber-blah. Spies (E03), a fan of Castle/Nikki Heat takes hostages (E04), false memories (E16), and a greedy Wall Street trader (E19) all fall well short of the mark.

EPISODE-BY-EPISODE REVIEW

S06E01

#Castle – S06E01 Valkyrie – Just like Castle, making Beckett’s case all about him dying 4/5 stars #TVReviews #PolyWogg #BingeWatch

OVERVIEW

I really want to love this season, and there are some seriously good episodes, like Ryan going undercover or the Rear Window episode. And while the average is higher for individual EPs, driving the season up to 4.0 overall, my overall satisfaction was down — the backstory just wasn’t working for me any more around Bracken, 3XK, Beckett’s mom, and the wildside of Castle’s Dad’s story (great premise, not awesomely executed).

EPISODES THAT I LIKED

The season starts off strong, with Kate and Rick hiding their new relationship (E01), escaping to the Hamptons (E04), to ComicCon (E06), and even Washington (E23). 3XK comes back around (E05) as does a billionaire with good taste (E21). Most of the cases are still stand-alone, which are good…an Almost Famous homage (E07), relationship endings (E10), and supernatural videos (E17). There is also a pretty good one involving twins and their past (E03). But there is an absolutely fabulous one where Ryan goes undercover with the Irish Mob. Outstanding. Reminded me of Wise Guy, the early days (which is a good thing). Add in a take-off of Rear Window (E19), and the season pretty much rocks.

But, of course, they have to have their special episodes. Episodes 15 and 16 deal with — SPOILER ALERT — Alexis being kidnapped and Castle meeting his Dad (yikes!). And then, just for fun, it’s flashback city for about 100 episodes (E22).

OVERVIEW

Building off Season 3, this season really starts to gel in certain areas. Which is odd, because the characters are written so they are NOT gelling…Castle finished off Season 3 with a big pronouncement, and Beckett says she doesn’t remember it. So they are at odds for most of the season. They have their moments, and then they have stumbling blocks. While a lot of Seasons 1-3 were about Castle growing up a little, finding something to care about besides being a playboy writer, this season is about Beckett growing as a person, finding something to care about other than her job.

EPISODES THAT I LIKED

The season has surprising depth in it, including Beckett adjusting to life after being shot (E01) and dealing with a sniper (E09). And they have some solid fun episodes with superheroes (E02), ghosts (E06), hostages (E07), politics (E12), and eager reporters (E19). But even beyond those 7 episodes, they have another 7 that just rock…Beckett and Castle wake up cuffed together, and there’s a tiger in the room next door? (E10) Awesome! There is a WILD episode just watching some pick-up artists describe their buddy’s operation (E11), plus a two-parter dealing with the CIA (E15, E16). And while every procedural wants to deal with the drug ketamine, this one was different enough to be interesting (E22).

But the two outstanding episodes are one in the middle of the season and the last one. The season ends with Castle and Beckett reaching an impasse — Castle isn’t willing to watch Beckett keep putting herself in danger with no backup, and she’s not willing to yield or bend (E23). Yet the EP that blows me away is the mid-season one (E14, The Blue Butterfly), where an old case is re-imagined with all the regular Castle characters playing parts in the old case, done up Chicago noir-style, very Chandler-esque.

EPISODES THAT WERE WATCHABLE

So there are fourteen EPs that are great (above), and then 4 here that are blah — E04 for family intrigue for Romeo and Juliet done gangster-style, E08 that should have been awesome with the boys in Atlantic City, E17 for a bit of the supernatural with vampires, and a romantic interest for Beckett from England (E20).

EPISODES THAT I DIDN’T LIKE

With those other EPs out of the way, there are 5 others that just fail to deliver…some need a better plot (E03 about Cryogenics, E21 with Castle working with Slaughter); another needs a better motive (E05 about a museum murder); and two others try to go topical with reality TV and dog shows (E18 and E13), with the gimmick just not working for the episode as nobody cares who killed who.

OVERVIEW

This is the season where Castle hits its stride. Beckett and Castle are in a good place after the first couple of episodes, they’re in their groove, and they’re even making progress on the conspiracy that claimed Beckett’s mother.

EPISODES THAT I LIKED

For me, almost every episode hits the mark this season. Sixteen of the 24 eps, I rate four stars or higher. E01 starts off solid with Castle as a potential suspect, particularly as he’s back in town and not calling. We move on to psychics (E02), steam-punk (E04), extra bodies in coffins (E05), strippers (E07), the X-Files (E09), an actress wanting to be Nikki Heat (E11), magic (E12), terrorist threats (E16 and E17), dead jurors (E19), and Beverly Hills (E22).

But the four stand out episodes are a little bit different. We have the Triple X K killer, with twists and turns galore (E06). Then a ho-hum mystery (a subway lightbulb changer gets killed) but expertly done (E08). And E24 is a huge reveal on the conspiracy around Beckett’s mother’s murder and how it all ties in. Yet I think my favorite one of the season is a softer one about speak-easies, pubs, and a modern take on the old mystery (E10).

EPISODES THAT WERE WATCHABLE

Two episodes really just “walk in” at the mid-point for quality. E03 deals with an old partner of Beckett’s, and E13 where there’s “almost” a reveal on the conspiracy.

EPISODES THAT I DIDN’T LIKE

So here’s the weird part. After a huge batch of awesome EPs, there are a full six that are yawners, all in the second half of the season. We have lottery winners (E14); old school chum of Castle (E15); soap operas (E18); pizza wars (E20); swimmers and steroids (E21); and a beauty pageant murder (E23). Bad plotting, obvious suspects, and not very interesting dialogue.

OVERVIEW

Season 2 starts with Beckett and Castle on the outs, as she’s pissed at him for looking into her mother’s case at the end of season 1. By the end of Season 2, Castle is starting to give up the romantic chase, just as Beckett starts to think she likes the chase.

EPISODES THAT I LIKED

Two episodes rock the season, Sucker Punch (E13) about the Irish mob, hitmen and Beckett’s mother, and A Deadly Game (E24) involving spy games, aka a variation on Gotcha. However, there are nine other episodes that are pretty solid — E05 where Castle might get to write a Bond novel; E08 for an old case of Montgomery’s; E10 where a dead man had two near-wives, or did he; E11 as a brilliant story of a man with amnesia, and the way his life works on the softer side; E12 with a wedding murder and *gasp* the bride is Castle’s ex; E14 with a cool idea of a squatter who stays in empty homes while people are away; E17 and E18 where a serial killer is playing with Nikki Heat and the FBI; and E20 about late night talk shows.

EPISODES THAT WERE WATCHABLE

Nine episodes were watchable, but nothing exciting…E01 has someone stealing their dead body; E02 rips off Hitchcock with criss-cross storylines; E04 is initially interesting with a grifter being killed while pretending to be at the North Pole; E06 checks in for Hallowe’en with the wannabe vampire set; E07 about a rock star balladeer that Alexis loves; E09 with a mystery pimp and call girls; E16 returns to the sex industry focused on bondage for graduate students; E21 added Detective Demming to the mix; and E22 for Kitchen Wars.

EPISODES THAT I DIDN’T LIKE

Overall, four episodes were yawners. E03 strutted for Fashion Week, but it was all retread stuff; E15 introduced a dead baseball player with obvious back stories; E19 had a death by mummy but with a huge obvious cameo; and E23 had Castle and Demming dueling to be master detective (soul-crushing).